Tuesday, March 18, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission voted to put a significant tax savings plan before Florida voters in November. By a 21-4 vote the independent panel decided to approve the proposal of a state constitutional amendment for an across-the-board property tax cut averaging 25 percent. The amendment would dwarf two other tax relief measures enacted over the past year by the Florida legislature. The previous efforts of the Legislature were widely considered to be ineffective and failed to address the underlying problem plaguing the State: irresponsible spending, widespread waste at local levels, and inequities in tax allocation. If the measure passes as expected, some Florida property owners could realize savings of over 33% of what they were paying before. The bulk of the savings are a result of eliminating property taxes that the legislature requires school districts to levy in order to qualify for state aid. At the ballot, the proposal will need 60% of voters’ approval.

The state will recoup some of the expected eight billion dollars in taxpayer relief by hiking the sales tax by one cent. Critics of the plan complained that the expected revenues as a result of the sales tax hike might not be realized due to the severe recession we are currently suffering. The recession and financial market turmoil is already causing people to reduce spending. House Speaker and taxpayer rights supporter, Marco Rubio disagreed, saying that if people have more money in their pocket, as this plan will certainly allow, they will go to the stores to spend it. The specific language of the plan will still need to be worked out, but the basic intent should remain unmodified.

Last year, The Legislature had ordered local governments to roll back property taxes, but many avoided the cuts by taking advantage of a loophole that let them override the requirement through votes of more than a simple majority. Others passed new fees to make up at least some of the lost property taxes. In the end, the irresponsible spending continued at the local levels. The new plan will certainly help curtail those abuses.

Established by Florida voters in 1988, The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission was formed by constitutional amendment. Its mission was stated as:

The commission shall examine the state budgetary process, the revenue needs and expenditure processes of the state, the appropriateness of the tax structure of the state, and governmental productivity and efficiency...

During the Commission’s first phase of its review of state taxation and spending policies, it reached the conclusion that:

The public has lost confidence in the state’s ability to spend money wisely. The state must reform itself before it can ask more of its citizens.

The Florida Constitution (Art. XI, § 6 Fla. Const.) and Florida Statutes (Fla. Stat. § 286.036) empower the Commission to make recommendations to the Legislature and to put constitutional issues directly before the people.

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Entrepreneur, former Fortune 500 senior executive, semi-retired at the age of 39 after founding and growing several businesses in High Technology, Management Consulting and Manufacturing.
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